General Information
Pupils will experience a wide range of activities in computing which will prepare them for certificate courses and the world of work.
These activities provide opportunities for pupils to enhance transferable skills in planning and organising, working independently and in groups, critical thinking and decision making, research, communication and self-and peer-evaluation, in a range of contexts.
The emphasis is on skills development and the application of those skills. This includes an understanding of computational thinking, computer architecture, the software development process, programming in a variety of environments and languages, the creation and use of databases, web design, graphics/Photoshop, video, animation and internet safety.
In the junior school courses available for study are:
- S1 ICT
- S2 Computing Science
- S3 Computing Science and Multimedia
For more information about course available in the senior school please see the Computing Science and Digital Media pages.
As a result of the city-wide licence we have for Microsoft Office, our pupils all now qualify for ‘Student Advantage’, which gives them FREE access to the full Microsoft Office suite.
Student Advantage has 2 elements :
- The ability to download the latest version of Microsoft Office (for Mac and PC) onto up to 5 computers at home.
- The ability to make full use of the Microsoft Office apps for iPad
Further information is available here.
Computing Science
Computing Science is vital to everyday life — socially, technologically and economically; it shapes the world in which we live and its future. Computing is embedded in the world around us, from systems and devices in our homes and places of work, to how we access education, entertainment, transportation and communication. Understanding computational processes and thinking is also vital to many other fields including science, economics, business and industry.
While many learners will want to become computing professionals, all will benefit from the development of these foundational skills and the underpinning knowledge necessary to meet the needs of society today and for the future.
Computing Science is available for study at:
- National 3
- National 4
- National 5
- Higher
- Advanced Higher
Digital Media
Use of digital media has grown to the extent that over half the households in the UK have access to it at home and some 80% of businesses make use of it. This NPA will offer candidates a knowledge and understanding of acquiring, editing and production of digital media elements to create a final product on computer systems in a fundamental area within digital media. This award will also develop skills in the use of a range of tools to acquire various digital elements from a range of different sources, editing and assembling them into a final product.
The award focuses on technical skills in the creation and editing of multimedia with a computing slant, but also emphasises the importance of the design process and soft skills such as interviewing and responding to feedback. Some aspects of the qualification also address demands from industry and government for the promotion of ‘employability skills’. Successful candidates should be expected to have an appreciation of important employability skills such as collaboration, communicating with a client, problem solving and reflective practice, as well as being able to produce an aesthetically pleasing product.
Digital Media is available for study at:
- NPA Level 4
- NPA Level 5
- NPA Level 6